PEDS Blog: June, 2010

Gov. Sonny Perdue signed into law two bills that limit distracted driving. The first one prohibits drivers of all ages from texting while driving.  The second makes it illegal for anyone under 18 to use a cell phone while driving.

Violators can face a penalty of $150 and one point against their driver’s license.  The laws take effect July 1, 2010.   Pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers on Georgia’s roads will be safer as a result of these new laws.  It’s about time, don’t you think?

Will Governor Sonny Perdue veto Senate Bill 360 that would ban texting while driving?  We don’t know.  Perdue has until June 8 to sign it but he hasn’t been clear about his intentions.

Please call Sonny Perdue (404-656-1776) and urge him to sign SB 360 to ban texting while driving in Georgia!  If you prefer to write a letter, use this form.

Currently, text messaging is banned for all drivers in 27 states and the District of Columbia.  See an interactive map of texting bans here.  In addition, novice drivers are banned from texting in 8 states (Alabama, Delaware, Indiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Texas, and West Virginia).

According to Georgia’s legislative rules, this bill will pass if Governor Perdue either signs it or does nothing. But, he could still decide to veto it.  So please call Perdue today (404-656-1776) and urge him to sign the bill.  This is a big deal and we need him to show his full support for a ban on texting while driving in Georgia.